Dying woman humiliated by revealing TSA pat-down
SEATTLE -- A dying woman says a a security pat-down at Sea-Tac Airport left her embarrassed in front of crowds of people.
Michelle Dunaj says screeners checked under bandages from recent surgeries and refused to give her a private search when she requested one.
Dunaj, who is dying of leukemia, carried a large amount of prescription drugs through Sea-Tac to head to Hawaii for what would be one of the last trips of her life.
She called Alaska Airlines ahead of time to request a wheelchair and to ask how her medicines should be separated for the security line.
"I did everything they asked me to do, so I didn't think it would be an issue," she said.
But Dunaj says nothing went right at the security checkpoint.
A machine couldn't get a reading on her saline bags, so a TSA agent forced one open, contaminating the fluid she needs to survive.
She says agents also made her lift up her shirt and pull back the bandages holding feeding tubes in place. Dunaj needs those tubes because of organ failure.
With other passengers staring, Dunaj says she asked for privacy and was turned down.
"They just said that it was fine; the location we were at was fine," she said.
TSA spokesperson Ann Davis said "Officers are trained to perform pat downs in a dignified manner and, at any point, passengers can request a private screening with a witness present."
However, Dunaj says her request for a private screening was denied, and she does not want others with special needs to run into the same problem.
"When somebody wants to take a trip, especially what I call an 'end-of-life trip' because you want to see your family and friends, then it becomes more important than just taking a trip," she said.
Davis said it is against policy for passengers to be denied privacy if they ask for it. The agency is responding to a request by KOMO News to look into the incident.
Michelle Dunaj says screeners checked under bandages from recent surgeries and refused to give her a private search when she requested one.
Dunaj, who is dying of leukemia, carried a large amount of prescription drugs through Sea-Tac to head to Hawaii for what would be one of the last trips of her life.
She called Alaska Airlines ahead of time to request a wheelchair and to ask how her medicines should be separated for the security line.
"I did everything they asked me to do, so I didn't think it would be an issue," she said.
But Dunaj says nothing went right at the security checkpoint.
A machine couldn't get a reading on her saline bags, so a TSA agent forced one open, contaminating the fluid she needs to survive.
She says agents also made her lift up her shirt and pull back the bandages holding feeding tubes in place. Dunaj needs those tubes because of organ failure.
With other passengers staring, Dunaj says she asked for privacy and was turned down.
"They just said that it was fine; the location we were at was fine," she said.
TSA spokesperson Ann Davis said "Officers are trained to perform pat downs in a dignified manner and, at any point, passengers can request a private screening with a witness present."
However, Dunaj says her request for a private screening was denied, and she does not want others with special needs to run into the same problem.
"When somebody wants to take a trip, especially what I call an 'end-of-life trip' because you want to see your family and friends, then it becomes more important than just taking a trip," she said.
Davis said it is against policy for passengers to be denied privacy if they ask for it. The agency is responding to a request by KOMO News to look into the incident.
Many TSA agents seem to think they are above the law, that they ARE the law, and that civil rights and the constitution do not apply to them.
They need to be whacked HARD!
i think she should take them to court and sue them, and maybe this should be one of the questions we ask president obama, , why is he allowing such atrocity to happen/ we have heard and read over the many months about how disgusting TSA is and what they do, so why cant something be done, instead of everyone just complaining, all talk and no action is not helping!!!!
I don't know about TSA, I do know Eastern hired a private security office....A written appology would not serfice in this case...it would have to be public the same way she was humiliated...they have to appoloze....Nothing less other than refunding her monies for the trip would do for me...There was no sense in this kind of treatment...There are ppls rights, the consitution seems to be being ignored a lot these days.....Things have got to find a way to treat ppl with dignity, and not humiliate them....This was truely blanent disrespect of her civial and private rights as an american....No other words can discribe this....I later became a nurse....So this is something I would also report to my doctor and have it documented....Then from there on he can write a prescription that the pt. is not to be touched or disturbed in any way, they have to respect that. They have no choice
terrible...that's the only word to describe the situation...let's give everyone some dignity and respect...I think we're losing that in this nation with all the rules and regulations...
i AM SO SO SORRY YOU HAD TO ENDURE SUCH A THING..If someone said they had a pace maker all we had to do was feel it and leave it alone...used a hand wann to screan them since they could not go thru normal screening. This should never have happend...I understand the why, but unless bag has been opened...It can not be contaminated. I hated opening childrens bottles to smell for gasaline...But had been used in a hyjacking..So had too....But a sealed bag could have been closely examined and none of this should have ever taken place....On behave of all security officers everywhere please accept my appologies..I know they are trying to keep things secure but that was invation of privacy....At the biggest level ever......
I worked security..a sealed bag should not have ever been opened...NEVER!!!!!!! there is never any sense of this and privacy is supposed to be of the utmost...Omg..I hope the screener was fired.....I am serious....
It's time - no, it's past time for an entire line of people waiting to board a plane to demand search warrants. Â ENOUGH of these warrant-less searches. Â HOW LONG IS THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL FARCE GOING TO GO ON!?
TSA: Why do you hate America? There's a special place in Hell waiting for you $@%^ards.
can we get a follow up on this, i want to see how they deal with those TSAs at SEA-TAC
I'm sure we would all like to hear more about this matter and how it is being dealt with. I'm so sorry for this woman.
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TSA YOU ARE SCUMBAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHAME ON YOU TSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TSA is a cruel joke being played upon the American public and upon visitors to the US (which I try to avoid at all costs lately). They have not prevented one single terrorist attack on any American airline since they originated. If they had, it would have been all over the news. Have you seen it?
TSA is an embarrassment
Was there ever an incident where a sick lady threatened to blow up a plane? How about we focus on the more likely offenders based on the past history of most likely offenders? Their politically correct protocols and guidelines make me sick.
I'm sorry. If you read this I want to tell you ,you are beautiful and brave...
This infuriates me!  I recently lost my mother to Pancreatic cancer, and my father to cancer 7 years ago. At the end of their lives they both required feeding tubes to receive nutrition and medication.  It is no surprise to anyone who flies that TSA is sticking to their stated protocols and guidelines, which they ignore so well.  Beyond a sincere personal apology from John Pistole, TSA Administrator, or even better from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.  I also want to see all TSA agents attend regular mandatory trainings which, amongst other topics, cover the care and dignity of travelers living with diseases like cancer and including chronic medical conditions (just 30% of the US population).  Such trainings should be developed with TSA and patients, their advocates and providers and offered regularly. Â
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Remember that TSA is an agency designed to protect and our safety, and our liberties with respect and dignity (http://www.tsa.gov/about-tsa/mission-vision-and-core-values). Â Most importantly they are an agency of our government accountable to us as citizens and travelers. Perhaps that lesson needs to be reminded to to them by one or more members of our Congressional delegation?
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You can find their contact info here:Â http://www.seattle.gov/oir/docs/WashingtonStateCongressionalDelegationContactList.pdf
This story just makes me sick to my stomach, them people shouldn't have a job after the humiliation they have put that women through!
TSA must be abolished! Â It gets Americans used to being treated in a Gestapo fashion; perhaps that's the real reason for TSA.
TSA is nothing better than "security theater". Â The screeners are scum. Â TSA must die.
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TSA is nothing but a lawless institution that gets away with everything, including things that are illegal, against federal law, against the constitution, and on and on and on. TSA agents need to have their family and friends go through the same crap right in front of them so they can see what it is like and what it means to have that done to them and those they love. Almost all TSA agents have done something that any civilian would be put in jail for. They should also be put in jail for breaking rules and regulations that would put the rest of us in jail!!!!!!!!!!!!
They hate us because of our FREEDOM©.
How dare they do that who in the hell do they think they are. Now that company should send her and her whole family on a trip and pay for the whole thing including the hotel meal back rubs or whatever her heart desires. I'll tell you what thank god I wasn't there cause everyone be see my face on the news and I'd be getting carring off by securty. Shame on everyone around her not to speak up. How sad for her your last trip to be with family and they didn't even give her the privicy she asked for. SHAME SHAME SHAME! This is why my whole family doesn't fly anywhere anymore if I can't drive there well I'm not going. You either got people who want to do bad things and hurt people or the one who don't shut up the whole flight right next to you or you have people with a illness and dying who's rights where not given to her. A hospital staff would loose there jobs on stop for not folowing there rights. God what a shame they better make it up to her. Everyone who has posted something that is ashamed by what they did blog it to everyone you know put it on your Face Book or Tweet it or yahoo it to everyone you know this woman should be made to feel like a Royal Queen for a whole week at there cost and if you keep a story going and people stop booking flights with them well you get my point. Sorry if I misspelled anything I do that when I'm mad. God be with her and her family Shame on them TSA should pay
 @suzanne kopetzky Airline didn't do it but our loveable Feds did. Notice how if a private company were involved in something like this the media storm would cost them money. The Feds? They couldn't give a damn because there are no consequences to criminal behavior. It's all "following procedures" and rot gut excuses like that. Travel used to be fun but I too just drive where I need to and to hell with the TSA.
TSA is unnecessary and waste of money. Why the hell do we even have them anyway? Let the airports get their own privatized security.
Shame, shame, shame on the TSA/Sea-Tac ! I recently flew on Alaska Airlines to SeaTac and had NO problems with security on either end (or my having to use a walker...and carry extra meds). Don't know what on God's green earth happend with Ms. Dunaj's nightmare of an experience but it is unexcuseable !  Why is it some have no probs with the TSA and others experience a nightmare ?!?!
I fly a lot, mostly international lately, so I sort of chuckle when people get mad at TSA because security elsewhere is often worse and more invasive, and you don't get a choice whether you have privacy or a patdown or anything. Â You get in that line, you have no rights to dignity. Â (Plus, I chuckle at TSA because they're so inconsistent - half go through the x-ray and half don't - why even have it at all then?) Â But this.......this is beyond the pale. Â Heads need to roll, from the top of the chain of command right down to the agent - to refuse her privacy in accordance with their OWN policy AND to contaminate anything she is carrying, which is clearly marked STERILE, Â is unacceptable and absolutely shameful. Â
This is one of the worst cases!!! I would demand the TSA agent fired!!!  I want the head of the TSA to go through the same thing this woman had to go through. See how they like it.
Not only did the idiots at TSA violate her person and put her in danger they could have been responsible if she fell ill on the plane if they contaminated any more items she needed to survive. I say SUE!!!!
Where do they find these people? Under rocks? The story infuriates me. I can understand not quite getting all the meds, etc the lady was carrying, but treatng her with no compassion is beyond belief. Maybe if they had taken her aside and had a private coversation with her this could have been avoided. All their butts should be fired and their supervisor should be questioned also. So pathetic to treat a human being this way.
A national one-month boycott of airports would solve the TSA problem.
This is the most infuriating story I have read in a long time. Â Everyday there are news stories about airport security, if you can even call it that. Â Where do they get these people? Â They have no common sense, not courteous to the passengers, and half of them look like they just rolled out of bed. Â The last time I flew out of Seattle, as I approached security, 2 of the so called security people were SLEEPING! Â We could have walked right through to our gate and no one would have known. Â I have no confidence in our airport security and something must be done about this. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET RID OF TS
Awww okay so a terrorist walks into the airport with "bandages" and says "Oh I'm dying whaaaaaaaa" than you can't search them? Got it..... Welcome to America, where everyone is a cry baby.Â
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders Better yet, why don't you go live in North Korea?  I'm sure you'll find the "security" there more to your liking.
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In America, we prefer freedom - even if our government has become a police state.
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders I know you're still upset over the Monday night football thing but are you serious?!
@PackersCougsBravesSounders
See this is one of the reasons KOMO did away with the TDâs. Wouldnât want to hurt this poor guys feelings.
I vote for stupid, probally works for TSA
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders No, we are not cry babies, we just want to know we will safe when 30,000 feet in the air! Â
 @True News  @PackersCougsBravesSounders And you think TSA is making you safer?  That makes you a fool.  (Don't worry, you're not alone.  There are many fools in America.)
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TSA doesn't ensure security. Â It only gives the ILLUSION of security.
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Try this thought experiment (if it doesn't strain your brain too badly). Â Prisons have smaller perimeters to patrol, are far more heavily guarded, have far fewer people going in and out each day, subject people entering to much stricter searches and establish much stricter control over people inside... and yet weapons and drugs are smuggled in on a regular basis. Â That means that even if TSA operated like prison wardens (which seems to be the direction they're going) they STILL could only give you the ILLUSION that you are "safe at 30,000 feet".
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Only a fool would applaud TSA for putting on such a show - well, fools and those who are using the compliance training to establish a police state.
It's sad that you think what this woman went through is apparently okay.  I can't help but wonder how you would feel if this female was a part of your family. Searches can be done without causing someone this much emotional pain.
@PackersCougsBravesSounders Are you for real? Or, are you just stupid?
We have elections coming up, vote for the change that you want. Â it's time to abolish the TSA and put smart minds to work devising a system that assures security without violating basic human dignity or our constitutional freedoms. Â
 @OttoPivnr If you want to change the TSA, you'll have to vote Libertarian.  The two major parties (two faces of the same threat to freedom) have no intention of reducing citizen abuse at the hands of government.
It is just sickening the stupidity of the TSA. Why don't you steal this dying woman's Ipad while you are at it?
Hopefully the agents involved will get in trouble!
This makes my blood boil!
All I read here is complaining. Do those who despise the TSA have a better way?
Fire them Implement racial profiling. when was the last time you saw a frail middle aged women who was dying, blow up an airplane? Think about it....
@MidnightRambler It seems that there are training issues here, from the top down
 @MidnightRambler Yes. Look for dangerous PEOPLE, not dangerous THINGS. Stop performing security theatre with badly trained "agents" - dumping out bottles of water and making sure no one flies with a cupcake, frisking toddlers and grannies in wheelchairs, making us line up in our socks while pocket change, fly buttons and bra wires set off metal detectors. Instead, train real security agents to use better judgement.
 @MidnightRambler Yes I do! Treat human beings with respect and dignity, and if a terminally ill woman requests privacy do her screening an a more private location. It's called customer service! As taxpayers we are the TSA's customers and their agents work for us!
@MidnightRambler
Better way to what, despise TSA? For me, no I just despise them. They are parasites, who contribute nothing and take a lot.Â
 @oldster70  @MidnightRamblerÂ
Shun them. Sometimes I take a bus full of TSA goons going to work at SeaTac. If it is crowded, I make sure I take a seat before any of them can. Never give them eye contact, never acknowledge them, never speak to them. Treat them like the leeches on society that they are, and let them know that they are unfit to mingle with normal society. Give them the worst service, the meanest attitude, the lowest possible treatment whenever you can. Anywhere, anytime you can, let a TSA employee know that their presence around you is not welcome.